Vapor-condensation-assisted optical microscopy system

ABSTRACT

A vapor-condensation-assisted optical microscopy system comprises a vapor-condensation-assisted device and an optical microscope. The vapor-condensation-assisted device comprises air blowing device, a vapor producing device and a guide pipe. The vapor producing device connects the air blowing device with the guide pipe. The optical microscope comprises an observing device, an image processing device, a support frame and a stage. The stage, the guide pipe of the vapor-condensation-assisted device, the observing device, and the image processing device are fixed on the support frame. The vapor-condensation-assisted device is configured to provide a vapor to sample on the stage in application.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No.201410034578.9 filed on Jan. 25, 2014 in the China Intellectual PropertyOffice, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to an optical microscopysystem and method for imaging nanostructures with the optical microscopysystem.

BACKGROUND

An accurate and efficient imaging of nanostructures can significantlydeepen our understanding of the microscopic world and shed light onprospective applications. Compared with scanning electron microscope(SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), atomic force microscope(AFM), scanning tunneling microscope (STM), etc., it is very easy tooperate an optical microscope and quite convenient to integrate it withother facilities. However, nanomaterials or nanostructures such ascarbon nanotubes (CNTs) cannot be directly observed by opticalmicroscope, because their nanoscale dimensions are much smaller than thewavelength of visible light.

Therefore the visualization of nanomaterials, especially of CNTs byoptical microscopy is highly desirable and has long been attempted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present optical microscopy system can be betterunderstood with references to the following drawings. The components inthe drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis insteadbeing placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the presentoptical microscopy system.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an optical microscopy system in accordancewith an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a vapor-condensation-assisted device inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the vapor-condensation-assisted device inaccordance with FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a vapor-condensation-assisted device inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an optical microscopy system in accordancewith an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of carbon nanotubes on a substrate.

FIG. 7 is an optical microscopy image of the carbon nanotubes on thesubstrate by the optical microscopy system of one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) image of the carbonnanotubes in FIG. 7.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate at least one present embodiment of the optical microscopysystem, in at least one form, and such exemplifications are not to beconstrued as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among thedifferent figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Inaddition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, itwill be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that theembodiments described herein can be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have notbeen described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevantfeature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale andthe proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustratedetails and features. The description is not to be considered aslimiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now bepresented.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly orindirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarilylimited to physical connections. The connection can be such that theobjects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term“outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of aphysical object. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion ofa region is partially contained within a boundary formed by the object.The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to theparticular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies,such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantiallycylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have oneor more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means“including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicatesopen-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group,series and the like. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one”embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the sameembodiment, and such references mean at least one.

References will now be made to the drawings to describe, in detail,various embodiments of the present epitaxial structures and methods formaking the same.

Referring to FIG. 1, an optical microscopy system 100 is providedaccording to one embodiment. The optical microscopy system 100 comprisesan optical microscope 10 and a vapor-condensation-assisted device 20.The optical microscope 10 can be one of various optical microscopes inexisting technology. The vapor-condensation-assisted device 20 is usedto provide vapor.

In one embodiment, the optical microscope 10 comprises stage 110,objective lenses 120, eyepiece 130, and an image collecting system 140,a light source system 150 and focus adjusting system 160.

The stage 110 is a platform below the objective lenses 120 whichsupports the specimen being viewed. The objective 120 is usually in acylinder housing containing a glass single or multi-element compoundlens. The optical microscope 10 can comprises one or more objectivelenses 120 that collect light from the specimen. In one embodiment,there are around three objective lenses 120 screwed into a circular nosepiece which may be rotated to select the required objective lens 120.These arrangements are designed to be par focal, which means that whenone changes from one lens to another on a microscope, the specimen staysin focus. The image collecting system 140 comprises a computer 144 and acamera 142. The focus adjusting system 160 comprises focus knobs to movethe stage 110 up and down with separate adjustment for coarse and finefocusing. Many sources of light can be used as the light source system150. At its simplest, daylight is directed via a mirror.

Referring to FIG. 2, the vapor-condensation-assisted device 20 comprisesan air blowing device 210, a vapor producing device 220 and a guide pipe230. The air blowing device 210 is connected to the vapor producingdevice 220 and can blow air to the vapor producing device 220. The vaporproducing device 220 is connected to the guide pipe 230. The air canblow from the air blowing device 210 into the vapor producing device 220and out of the guide pipe 230. The vapor produced the in vapor producingdevice 220 can be blew to the specimen on the stage 110 by the blowingair from the air blowing device 210.

The air blowing device 210 can be a flexible bulb that is able to inhaleor exhale the air by pressing. The air bowling device 210 is connectedto the vapor producing device 220. The air can be blown into the vaporproducing device 220 by the air blowing device 210. In one embodiment,the air blowing device 210 is a rubber suction bulb.

The vapor producing device 220 comprises a liquid absorbing material222, a hollow tube 224, and heating layer 226 and a power source 228.The liquid absorbing material 222 is located in the hollow tube 224, butdoes not affect the ventilation performance of the hollow tube 224. Aliquid material is absorbed by the liquid absorbing material 222. Theheating layer 226 is surrounded the out surface of the hollow tube 224and electrical connected to the power source 228. The heating layer 226is used to heat the liquid absorbing material 222 located in the hollowtube 224. The liquid material turns into vapor when the liquid absorbingmaterial 222 is heated.

A material of the hollow tube 224 is not limited, and can be soft orhard materials. The hard material can be ceramic, glass, or quartz. Thesoft material can be resin, rubber, plastic or flexible fiber. The crosssection shape of the hollow tube 224 is also unlimited, and can beround, arc, or rectangle. In one embodiment, this example, the hollowtube 224 is a hollow ceramic tube with a circular cross section.

The liquid absorbing material 222 has good absorption performance. Theliquid absorbing material 222 can be cotton, non-woven fabrics and highabsorbent resin. In one embodiment, the liquid absorbing material 222 isattached to the inner surface of the hollow tube 224.

The heating layer 226 is disposed on an outer surface of the hollow tube224. The heating layer 226 comprises a carbon nanotube structure. Thecarbon nanotube structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotubesuniformly distributed therein, and the carbon nanotubes therein can becombined by van der Waals attractive force therebetween. The carbonnanotube structure can be a substantially pure structure of the carbonnanotubes, with few impurities. The carbon nanotubes can be used to formmany different structures and provide a large specific surface area. Theheat capacity per unit area of the carbon nanotube structure can be lessthan 2×10⁻⁴ J/m²·K. Typically, the heat capacity per unit area of thecarbon nanotube structure is less than 1.7×10⁻⁶ J/m²·K. As the heatcapacity of the carbon nanotube structure is very low, and thetemperature of the heating element 16 can rise and fall quickly, whichmakes the heating layer 226 have a high heating efficiency and accuracy.As the carbon nanotube structure can be substantially pure, the carbonnanotubes are not easily oxidized and the life of the heating layer 226will be relatively long. Further, the carbon nanotubes have a lowdensity, about 1.35 g/cm³, so the heating layer 226 is light. As theheat capacity of the carbon nanotube structure is very low, the heatinglayer 226 has a high response heating speed. As the carbon nanotube haslarge specific surface area, the carbon nanotube structure with aplurality of carbon nanotubes has large specific surface area. When thespecific surface of the carbon nanotube structure is large enough, thecarbon nanotube structure is adhesive and can be directly applied to thesurface outer surface of the hollow tube 224.

The carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube structure can be arrangedorderly or disorderly. The term ‘disordered carbon nanotube structure’refers to a structure where the carbon nanotubes are arranged along manydifferent directions, and the aligning directions of the carbonnanotubes are random. The number of the carbon nanotubes arranged alongeach different direction can be almost the same (e.g. uniformlydisordered). The disordered carbon nanotube structure can be isotropic.The carbon nanotubes in the disordered carbon nanotube structure can beentangled with each other.

The carbon nanotube structure including ordered carbon nanotubes is anordered carbon nanotube structure. The term ‘ordered carbon nanotubestructure’ refers to a structure where the carbon nanotubes are arrangedin a consistently systematic manner, e.g., the carbon nanotubes arearranged approximately along a same direction and/or have two or moresections within each of which the carbon nanotubes are arrangedapproximately along a same direction (different sections can havedifferent directions). The carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotubestructure can be selected from a group consisting of single-walled,double-walled, and/or multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

The carbon nanotube structure can be a carbon nanotube film structurewith a thickness ranging from about 0.5 nanometers to about 1millimeter. The carbon nanotube film structure can include at least onecarbon nanotube film. The carbon nanotube structure can also be a linearcarbon nanotube structure with a diameter ranging from about 0.5nanometers to about 1 millimeter. The carbon nanotube structure can alsobe a combination of the carbon nanotube film structure and the linearcarbon nanotube structure. It is understood that any carbon nanotubestructure described can be used with all embodiments. It is alsounderstood that any carbon nanotube structure may or may not employ theuse of a support structure.

In one embodiment, the carbon nanotube structure includes at least onedrawn carbon nanotube film. A film can be drawn from a carbon nanotubearray, to form a drawn carbon nanotube film. The drawn carbon nanotubefilm includes a plurality of successive and oriented carbon nanotubesjoined end-to-end by van der Waals attractive force therebetween. Thedrawn carbon nanotube film is a free-standing film. Each drawn carbonnanotube film includes a plurality of successively oriented carbonnanotube segments joined end-to-end by van der Waals attractive forcetherebetween. Each carbon nanotube segment includes a plurality ofcarbon nanotubes parallel to each other, and combined by van der Waalsattractive force therebetween. As can be seen in FIG. 3, some variationscan occur in the drawn carbon nanotube film. The carbon nanotubes 145 inthe drawn carbon nanotube film are oriented along a preferredorientation. The carbon nanotube film can be treated with an organicsolvent to increase the mechanical strength and toughness of the carbonnanotube film and reduce the coefficient of friction of the carbonnanotube film. A thickness of the carbon nanotube film can range fromabout 0.5 nanometers to about 100 micrometers.

The vapor producing device 220 further comprises two electrodes 221located on and electrically connected to the heating layer 226.Furthermore, it is imperative that the two spaced electrodes 221 areseparated from each other to prevent short circuiting of the electrodes.The two electrodes 221 can be directly electrically attached to theheating layer 226 by, for example, a conductive adhesive (not shown),such as silver adhesive. Because, some of the carbon nanotube structureshave large specific surface area and are adhesive in nature, in someembodiments, the two electrodes 221 can be adhered directly to heatinglayer 226. It should be noted that any other bonding ways may be adoptedas long as the two electrodes 221 are electrically connected to theheating layer 226. The shape of the two electrodes 221 are not limitedand can be lamellar, rod, wire, and block among other shapes.

The two electrodes 221 can be conductive films. A material of the twoelectrodes 221 can be metal, alloy, indium tin oxide (ITO), antimony tinoxide (ATO), conductive silver glue, conductive polymers or conductivecarbon nanotubes. The metal or alloy materials can be aluminum, copper,tungsten, molybdenum, gold, titanium, neodymium, palladium, cesium orany combination of the alloy. In one embodiment, the electrode 221 is apalladium film with a thickness of 20 nanometers.

The power source 228 can be AC or DC power. The power source 228 iselectrically connected to the two electrodes 221. When a voltage isapplied to heating layer 226 via the two electrodes 221, the carbonnanotube structure of the heating layer 226 radiates heat at a certainwavelength. The temperature of the heating layer 226 ranges from 50° C.to 500° C., the liquid material in the liquid absorbing material 222turns to vapor.

The vapor producing device 220 can further comprises a protecting layer202 attached to the exposed surface of the heating layer 226. Theprotecting layer 202 can protect the heating layer 226 from theenvironment. A material of the protecting layer 202 can be an insulatedmaterial, such as resin, plastic or rubber. A thickness of theprotecting layer 202 can range from about 0.5 μm to about 2 mm.

The guide pipe 230 comprises a first opening 231 and a second opening235 opposite to the first opening 231. The diameter of the first opening231 is smaller than the diameter of the second opening 235. Air can flowfrom the first opening 231 to the second opening through the guide pipe230. The second opening 235 is sealed connected to the vapor producingdevice 220. The material of the guide pipe 230 is not limited, and canbe soft or hard materials. The hard material can be ceramic, glass, orquartz. The soft material can be resin, rubber, plastic or flexiblefiber. The cross section shape of the hollow tube 224 is also unlimited,and can be round, arc, or rectangle. In one embodiment, this example,the guide pipe 230 is a hollow ceramic tube with a circular crosssection.

The air blowing device 210, the vapor producing device 220 and the guidepipe 230 are integrated with each other. The air blowing device 210 canpush the air through the vapor producing device 220 and the guide pipe230, from the first opening 231 to the sample on the stage 110.

Referring to FIG. 3, the vapor-condensation-assisted device 20 canfurther comprises an additional pipe 240. The additional pipe 240 islocated between the vapor producing device 220 and the air blowingdevice 210. The vapor producing device 220 is connected to the airblowing device 210 via the additional pipe 240. The material of theadditional pipe 240 is not limited, and can be soft or hard materials.The hard material can be ceramic, glass, or quartz. The soft materialcan be resin, rubber, plastic or flexible fiber. The stability of airflow can be enhanced by the additional pipe 240. In one embodiment, theadditional pipe 240 is made of rubber, and 50 centimeters long.

Referring to FIG. 4, a vapor-condensation-assisted device 40 accordingto another embodiment is provided.

The vapor-condensation-assisted device 40 comprises an air blowingdevice 410 a vapor producing device 420 and a guide pipe 230. The airblowing device 410 comprises blowing machine 412 and a first connectingpipe 414. First end of the first connecting pipe 414 is connected to theblowing device 410 and used to exhaust the air blowing from the airblowing device 410. Second end of the first connecting pipe 414 isconnected to the vapor producing device 420.

The vapor producing device 420 comprises a three neck flask 427 and asecond connecting pipe 429. The three neck flask 427 comprises an airinlet 423, an outlet 425 and a liquid inlet 428. A liquid is held in thethree neck flask 427. First end of the first connecting pipe 414 isconnected to the blowing device 410 and used to exhaust the air blowingfrom the air blowing device 410. Second end of the first connecting pipe414 is inserted in the three neck flask 427 through the air inlet 423.Another end of the first connecting pipe 414 is under the liquid surfacecontained in the three neck flask 427. First end of the secondconnecting pipe 429 is inserted into the three neck flask 427 throughthe outlet 425, and is above the liquid surface contained in the threeneck flask 427. Second end of the second connecting pipe 429 is sealedconnected to the second opening 235 of the guide pipe 230. The liquidinlet 428 is used to pour liquid into the three neck flask 427. When theair is blew into the three neck flask 427 under the liquid surface,liquid particles would get into the second connecting pipe 429 with theair into the second connecting pipe 429. Thus, vapor can be delivered tothe stage 110.

Further, the vapor-condensation-assisted device 40 can comprise aheating device 426 to heat the three neck flask 427. In one embodiment,the heating device 426 is a spirit lamp.

Referring to FIG. 5, an optical microscopy system 200 is providedaccording to one embodiment. The optical microscopy system 200 comprisesan optical microscope 30 and a vapor-condensation-assisted device 20.

The optical microscope 30 comprises an observing device 320, an imageprocessing device 360, a support frame 330 and a stage 310. The guidepipe 230 of the vapor-condensation-assisted device 20, the observingdevice 320, and an image processing device 360 are fixed on the supportframe 330. The observing device 320 integrated eyepieces, objectivelenses, focus knobs, and charge-coupled device (CCD). An image caught bythe observing device 320 can be send to the image processing device 360,and display on the screen of the image processing device 360. Theoptical microscopy system 200 is simple and very low-cost.

A method for observing nanostructures by the optical microscopy system100, 200 according to the embodiments is provided. The method comprisesthe steps of:

S1, providing a sample 60 with a nanostructure;

S2, locating the sample 60 on the stage 110, 310 of the opticalmicroscopy system 100, 200; and

S3, applying a vapor to the sample 60 to observe the sample 60 via theoptical microscopy system 100, 200.

In S1, the sample can be any patterns with nanostructures on asubstrate. In one embodiment, the sample 60 comprises carbon nanotubes610 horizontally aligned on a substrate 600 as shown in FIG. 6. Thecarbon nanotubes 610 are parallel to the surface of the substrate 600.The substrate 600 is a silicon substrate.

In S2, the sample 60 can be located on a slide first and then the slideis put on the stage 110, 310. The substrate 600 can be observed byadjusting the focusing mechanism of the optical microscopy system 100,200. The sample 60 can not be observed by the optical microscopy system100, 200, when the vapor is not induced to the surface of the sample 60.

In S3, when the vapor-condensation-assisted device 20 is applied, thefirst opening 231 of the guide pipe 230 can be immersed into liquid andinhale some liquid into the vapor producing device 220. The liquidinhaled in the vapor producing device 220 is absorbed by the liquidabsorbing material 222. When the vapor producing device 220 is heated bythe heating layer 226, vapor is obtained and can flow with the air flowfrom the air bowling device 210 to the first opening 231. The vapor isinduced to the surface of the sample 60. The liquid can be water oralcohol. In one embodiment, the liquid is water, the vapor is watervapor. When the vapor of water reaching the sample 60, the vapor ofwater would condense into micro-droplets on the condensation nucleiattached to the sample 60. Under oblique illuminating light, themicro-droplets of water will act as scattering centers, appearing asbright dots under a dark-field optical microscope. Thus, the sample 60is observed by the optical microscopy system 100, 200.

Referring to FIG. 7, an optical microscopy image of carbon nanotubes 610on the substrate 600 is taken by the above method via the opticalmicroscopy system 100. The orientation of the carbon nanotubes isclearly shown in FIG. 7. As a comparison, a SEM image of the carbonnanotubes 610 taken by a Scanning Electron Microscope is provided inFIG. 8. FIGS. 7 and 8 compare the optical microscopy image and the SEMimage of the carbon nanotubes 610 on the same area of the substrate 600.It is evident that the optical microscopy image exactly shows thelocation and the morphology of the carbon nanotubes 610. In fact, thereis a carbon nanotube visible in the optical microscopy image (indicatedby the white arrow in FIG. 7), but invisible in the SEM image (where thewhite arrow locates in FIG. 8). This may be due to the special contrastmechanism of SEM.

In another embodiment, a method for observing nanostructures by anoptical microscopy is provided. The method comprises the steps of:

S10, providing a sample 60 with a nanostructure;

S20, applying a cold source on the stage 110 of the optical microscope10; and

S30, locating the sample 60 on the cold source to observe the sample 60via the optical microscope 10 in an environment with vapor.

In S30, the cold source is used to decrease the temperature of thesample 60. The temperature of the sample 60 is lower than thetemperature of environment. The vapor in the environment could condenseon the surface of the sample 60, because the temperature of the sample60 is lower than the temperature of environment. Therefore, the sample60 can be observed by the optical microscope 10.

A method for observing nanostructures by an optical microscopy areprovided according to one embodiment is provided. The method comprisessteps of:

S100, providing a sample 60 with a nanostructure;

S200, applying a cold source on the stage 110 of the optical microscope10;

S300, locating the sample 60 on the cold source; and

S400, applying a vapor to the sample 60 to observe the sample 60 via theoptical microscope 10.

In S400, because the sample is located on the cold source, thetemperature of the sample 60 is much lower than the temperature of thevapor. The vapor is easy to condense on the surface of the sample 60.The sample 60 can be easily observed by the optical microscope 10.

A technique to observe nanostructures by optical microscopy is developedwith the help of water vapor condensation. Essentially, we do notdirectly observe the nanostructures themselves, but the condensationnuclei on them. The difference in the density and the type of thesub-nanometer condensation nuclei leads to different contrast under anoptical microscope. In fact, the vapor molecule is not restricted towater. Any other vapor that meets the following conditions isacceptable. This simple, low-cost, and efficient optical microscopysystem is applicable to a variety of nanostructures, even to functionalgroups, and does not induce any impurities to the specimens, which willpave the way for widespread applications.

Finally, it is to be understood that the above-described embodiments areintended to illustrate rather than limit the disclosure. Variations maybe made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of thedisclosure as claimed. The above-described embodiments illustrate thescope of the disclosure but do not restrict the scope of the disclosure.

It is also to be understood that the above description and the claimsdrawn to a method may include some indication in reference to certainsteps. However, the indication used is only to be viewed foridentification purposes and not as a suggestion as to an order for thesteps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vapor-condensation-assisted optical microscopysystem comprising: a vapor-condensation-assisted device comprising avapor producing device connected to a second end of a guide pipe,wherein the vapor producing device comprises a liquid absorbingmaterial, a hollow tube, a heating layer, and a power source; and theliquid absorbing material is disposed in the hollow tube, the heatinglayer is surrounded an out surface of the hollow tube, and electricalconnected to the power source; and an optical microscope comprising astage, wherein a first end of the guide pipe is pointed to and above thestage, and the vapor-condensation-assisted device is configured toprovide vapor to sample on the stage.
 2. The vapor-condensation-assistedoptical microscopy system as claimed in claim 1, wherein thevapor-condensation-assisted device comprises an air blowing deviceconnected to the vapor producing device.
 3. Thevapor-condensation-assisted optical microscopy system as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the air blowing device is a flexible bulb.
 4. Thevapor-condensation-assisted optical microscopy system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the liquid absorbing material is cotton, a non-wovenfabric or an absorbent resin.
 5. The vapor-condensation-assisted opticalmicroscopy system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow tube is madeof ceramic, glass or quartz.
 6. The vapor-condensation-assisted opticalmicroscopy system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vapor producingdevice further comprises an insulated layer disposed on the heatinglayer.
 7. The vapor-condensation-assisted optical microscopy system asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the vapor producing device further comprisestwo spaced electrodes eclectically connected to and located on theheating layer.
 8. The vapor-condensation-assisted optical microscopysystem as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating layer comprises acarbon nanotube structure.
 9. The vapor-condensation-assisted opticalmicroscopy system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the vapor producingdevice further comprises an additional pipe, the vapor producing deviceis connected to the air blowing device via the additional pipe.
 10. Thevapor-condensation-assisted optical microscopy system as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the additional pipe is made of resin, rubber orplastic.
 11. The vapor-condensation-assisted optical microscopy systemas claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical microscope further comprisesobjective lenses, eyepieces, an image collecting system, a light sourcesystem and a focus adjusting system.
 12. A vapor-condensation-assistedoptical microscopy system comprising: a vapor-condensation-assisteddevice comprising an air blowing device, a vapor producing device and aguide pipe, wherein the blowing device connects to the vapor producingdevice, and the vapor producing device connects to the guide pipe; andthe vapor producing device comprises a liquid absorbing material, ahollow tube, and heating layer, and a power source; the liquid absorbingmaterial is disposed in the hollow tube, the heating layer is surroundedan out surface of the hollow tube and electrical connected to the powersource; and an optical microscope comprising an observing device, animage processing device, a support frame and a stage, wherein the guidepipe, the observing device, and the image processing device are fixed onthe support frame, the guide pipe points to the stage, and thevapor-condensation-assisted device is configured to provide vapor tosample on the stage in application.
 13. The vapor-condensation-assistedoptical microscopy system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the observingdevice integrates eyepieces, objective lenses, focus knobs, andcharge-coupled device (CCD).
 14. The vapor-condensation-assisted opticalmicroscopy system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the air blowing deviceblows air through the vapor producing device into the guide pipe. 15.The vapor-condensation-assisted optical microscopy system as claimed inclaim 14, wherein the air blowing device is a flexible bulb.
 16. Thevapor-condensation-assisted optical microscopy system as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the liquid absorbing material is cotton, a non-wovenfabric or an absorbent resin.
 17. The vapor-condensation-assistedoptical microscopy system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the hollowtube is made of ceramic, glass or quartz.
 18. Avapor-condensation-assisted optical microscopy system comprising: avapor-condensation-assisted device comprising an air blowing devicecomprising an blowing machine, a first connecting pipe, a vaporproducing device comprising a container configured to hold liquid, and aguide pipe connected to the vapor producing device, wherein a first endof the first connecting pipe is connected to the blowing machine andconfigured to exhaust the air blowing from the air blowing device, and asecond end of the first connecting pipe is inserted in the container,wherein the container is a three neck flask comprising a first neck, asecond neck and a third neck; the second end of the first connectingpipe is inserted in the three neck flask through the first neck, theguide pipe is connected to the three neck flask through the second neck,and the third neck is configured to fill the liquid; and an opticalmicroscope comprising a stage, wherein a first end of the guide pipe ispointed to and above the stage, and the vapor-condensation-assisteddevice is configured to provide vapor to sample on the stage.
 19. Thevapor-condensation-assisted optical microscopy system as claimed inclaim 18, wherein the vapor producing device further comprises a heatingdevice to heat the container.